Northampton College wins legal battle to build education centre

Northampton College has been granted permission to build a new education development campus that will provide over 200 apprenticeships to its students.

A new learning facility will be built on land owned by the college in the market town of Daventry. The college received over £6m of funding as part of the government’s Local Growth Deals. The college however, will have to raise an additional £6.5m through the sale of its land to fund the development.

The centre will provide educational services for over 700 students and will be providing learning services for adults. The centre is expected to open in autumn 2016.

The news comes after Daventry District council green-lit the college’s plans to build the centre, after being legally challenged by Daventry residents and local football club Drayton Grange FC.

Commenting on the legal victory, college headmaster Pat Brennan-Barrett was delighted that the school has overcome its battle with local residents.

‘‘As a college, our ambition is to be the first choice for training and education in Daventry and our plans demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the town and the local community.’’

‘‘We will continue to work on detailed plans for our new building and we now look forward to receiving planning approval for the building itself in September.’’

Although Northampton College has been given the go-ahead by the local council, Brennan-Barret’s plans are still on hold.

Sport England and the Environment Agency also rejected the college’s proposals, meaning that the National Planning Casework Unit has final say as to whether the development can go ahead.